Monday, March 17, 2014

Good News for the Metropolitan Region's Public Beaches!

The “Environmental Bond Bill”, House No. 3332, contains some
very good news for the metropolitan region’s public beaches.

The bill, which was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural
Resources and Agriculture today, contains $20 million to
improve water
quality and $40 million for capital projects on the metropolitan
region’s public
beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. These funds will support investments
which will protect the environment and improve the quality of life for
residents of the region's coastal communities.

Save the Harbor would like to thank the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
and our many friends and allies in the Massachusetts Legislature for their
commitment to continued public investment to restore and protect Boston Harbor and these remarkable
coastal resources.

We also want to take a moment to thank our many friends and
supporters in the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities
for their steadfast support.

We recognize that it is early in the process, but we are encouraged
by the support that these items have received.

Here are the relevant sections
of the bill.

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3332

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

An Act providing for the preservation and improvement of land, parks,
and clean energy in the Commonwealth

2000-7064 For the development and support of local efforts to
improve water quality on the metropolitan region’s public beaches owned by the
commonwealth under the care, custody and control of the department of
conservation and recreation, including, but not limited to, convening the
public to enhance awareness of and participation in planning, regulatory, and
permitting decisions; site specific research and analysis; feasibility and
other assessments; plans for water, sewer, storm water, and other
infrastructure investments; site specific plans, including, construction
documents and architectural blueprints, the development of municipal storm
water management plans, the design, construction, restoration, enhancement,
reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of storm water and sewage system
infrastructure; and for outreach, communications, education, and planning to
improve water quality in communities that include, but are not limited to,
Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy
and Hull ................$20,000,000

2000-7065. For the design, construction, restoration,
enhancement, reconstruction, rehabilitation, replacement or removal of
infrastructure on the metropolitan region’s public beaches owned by the
commonwealth and under the care, custody and control of the department of
conservation and recreation, including, but not limited to buildings, roads,
trails and paths; provided, that costs payable from this item may include, but
not be limited to, the costs of engineering, restoration, construction and
other technical assistance services essential to these projects rendered by the
department of conservation and recreation, maintenance employees or by
consultants. Projects shall include, but are not limited to, those recommended
by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission ……$40,000,0000

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Welcome!

Save the Harbor/Save the Bayis a non-profit public-interest Boston Harbor environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Boston Harbor region's public beaches, Boston's waterfront and the marine environment and share them with the public, for everyone to enjoy.

Since 1986, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay has been the driving force behind the transformation of Boston Harbor from one of the dirtiest urban harbors in America to one of the cleanest in the world.

As a result of our advocacy, Boston Harbor has been transformed from a "Harbor of Shame" into a source of recreational, educational and economic opportunity and civic pride. Today the beaches of South Boston are among the cleanest urban beaches in the nation, the Boston Harbor Islands are a National Park, and Boston's waterfront has become a compelling destination for residents and visitors alike.

Working with a broad base of civic, corporate, government, scientific, philanthropic and community partners, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay continues to strengthen the connections between communities and the harbor, and promote the increasingly important impact Boston Harbor has on the region’s economy.

Each year Save the Harbor / Save the Bay runs 2 freeYouth Environmental Education Programs that combine recreation and hands-on education to bring Boston Harbor alive for thousands of Boston area young people. Since 2003, we have connected nearly 250,000 youth and teens to Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, our region's public beaches and Boston's waterfront.

Our "Boston Harbor Explorers" program serves thousands of young people at the Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, the Piers Park Sailing Center and Constitution Beach in East Boston, DCR's Carson Beach in South Boston, at Community Boating on the Charles River, on Black's Creek in Quincy, and at Camp Harbor View on Long Island and at The Boston Children's Museum.Our"All Access Boston Harbor"program departs weekdays from the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in South Boston, and brings thousands of youth and teens from more than 100 community groups to Georges or Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park on the Provincetown II.

OurBetter Beaches Program supports dozens of free events and activities on the region's public beaches each year in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

We hope we can count on you as we share Boston Harbor with 30,000 young people on 28 free island excursions and at 40 free events and programs on the region's public beaches in 2018.For more information about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay please visit our website at www.savetheharbor.org